Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio Denied Access to National Hispanic Women's Conference in Phoenix

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was not one of the hundreds of people who attended the National Hispanic Women's Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. last week.  

Although he made a $800 deposit to secure a booth at the convention, organizers at the Latina's women's group refused to welcome the self-proclaimed toughest sheriff in America, instead, returning his entry fee. 

In a statement, the group says its decision was based on a recent court ruling that stated that his office engaged in racial profiling against Latinos for years.

"The conference is about leading and inspiring Latina professionals," said Leticia de la Vara, a spokeswoman for the event, to KSAZ-TV. "Arpaio does not fit that mold, so it was a pretty easy decision on why we would go forward with that."

De la Vara added that if Arpaio is trying to mend relations with the Hispanic community their convention isn't the place to do it.

"He has built quite a big wall between us and his office because of the raids and the path he's taken to approach how he's going to work with the Hispanic community," de la Vara stated.

Arpaio says he didn't think it was fair for the group to take out its dislike of him on his employees, especially because the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office purchased the booth to recruit potential new employees. He says 24 percent of his office is Latino.

"I have been reaching out more or less to the Hispanic community and I am a little discouraged that this lady turned me down, sent the check back, because she thinks I am too high profile when you are dealing with the Hispanic community," Arpaio told KSAZ-TV.

The controversial law enforcement officer is known for jailing inmates in tents and making prisoners wear pink underwear. In 2006, he began enforcing immigration statutes amid Arizona voter frustration with the state's role as the nation's busiest illegal entryway.

U.S. District Judge Murray Snow ruled earlier this year that Arpaio's office systematically singled out Latinos in its immigration patrols and deputies unreasonably prolonged the detentions of people who were pulled over, reports ABC News.